Stretch marks appear when your skin is stretched rapidly and beyond its normal limit. Men and women are both susceptible to stretch marks, however, it seems that women are more likely to suffer from them than are men. As a matter of fact, pregnancy is one of the leading causes of stretch marks in most females.

During this period, stretch marks appear around the breasts, abdomen, and hip area. Stretch marks can also appear after having given birth because of the rapid weight loss. It is thought that more than half of women get stretch marks during pregnancy.

Let's take a look at how you can prevent and treat stretch marks during and after pregnancy. Remember, that the products used for pregnancy stretch marks can also be used on men and teenagers.

Things you can do to Prevent Stretch Marks

Fortunately, there are several products that your doctor can prescribe that can help prevent stretch marks. These products keep the skin taut, yet flexible. They help the skin stretch without breaking.

Other than worrying about the right creams for stretch marks you should also worry about gaining weight slowly, as suggested by your doctor. This will not only help you prevent stretch marks, but will hasten weight loss after the birth. Also, gaining too much weight gain during pregnancy can be dangerous to your health and to the baby's healthy.

Keep in mind that a healthy diet can do wonders for controlling your weight gain. You should only increase your caloric intake by 300 calories per day, which is a normal meal.

Also, stay away from junk food and overly processed foods which are both high in sodium and have empty calories. They will only make you gain extra pounds faster than you can imagine.

Remove Stretch Marks

If after pregnancy you've noticed that your body is covered in stretch marks, then surgery may be a valid option for you. Plastic surgery removes excess skin as well as stretch marks. The resulting scar is hidden in the skin's natural folds.

This type of surgery is usually performed on the abdominal area. Stretch marks that appear on the arms, breast, hips, and legs will require another type of treatment. In this case, you can use natural stretch marks creams to help treat the affected area.

This type of treatment is less invasive than surgery, but it takes longer to show results. Look for products that contain rose hip seed oil, snail serum or emu oil. These products can help dissolve connective tissue and promote the production of healthy skin cells.